Evaluating green stink bug damage in edamame soybean

Edamame soybeans are an emerging crop in Arkansas and as with our traditionally grown soybeans the green stink bug is a major pest of this crop.  Due to edamame’s use as a food crop, as opposed to the soybean typically used in industry and animal feed, appearance of the pod and bean is a major factor in crop value.  As with any new crop, economic thresholds must be determined for each production region.  

In 2012, lumite cages (6ft x 6ft x 6ft) were placed over edamame soybeans to contain stink bugs at densities of 0, 1, 3 and 6 stinkbug nymphs per cage for 7 and 14 days.   In 2013 a similar trial was conducted using green stink bug adults at densities of 0, 2, 6 or 12 per cage and left to feed for 7 days.  Yields were taken from one row in each cage and evidence of feeding was confirmed by staining and counting salivary sheaths on 50 pods per cage using Bowling’s method. 

Between insect densities there were no differences in yield or pod injury though there were noticeable trends.